I just recently accquired this item for review myself and I have found it to be a very informative piece of literature. Its has alot of aspects dealing with how certain exploits can be countered I deemed a necessary thing to understand from an administrator's position.

I recently picked up a copy of this book (thanks SFDC) and I am enjoying the read. My only complaint is the lack of an "E"copy on the CD. With all the included tools, i was suprised to find it didnt have a copy of the book in pdf or otherwise. Just would be a nice addition so i could read while at work (and still look busy) and its nice to be able to read an ebook on a laptop that you carry anyway, instead of having to lug a 900 page book around.

Any one read the fifth edition yet? Im going to buy a book (for the first time) on hacking and im thinking of getting this one, do you have to have read 1,2,3 and 4 to fully understand the fifth or can you jump right into the fifth edition without reading the previous ones?